Special days in June and September offer free museum admission and free healthy living activities
The Mint Museum is joining with leading members of the business community to present a new concept to the public: Mint Museum Community Wellness Days. These special events will combine free health-focused activities and free museum admission in recognition of the significant role that arts and culture play in healthy living and a community’s well-being.
Novant Health and PNC have each signed on as lead sponsors for an upcoming event, both of which will be based at Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road. The Novant Health Community Wellness Day, with additional support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, is June 29, and the PNC Community Wellness Day is scheduled for September 28. Both events will offer activities from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
“The Mint is grateful to Novant Health, PNC, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina for their leadership in supporting community wellness, and for their recognition of the important role that cultural institutions such as the Mint can play in fostering it,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “These events further the Mint’s ongoing commitment to being a resource for health and wellness and to being an accessible and relevant resource for the community.”
Recent research demonstrates the significant power of many art forms as a healing therapy for many conditions and diseases. Engagement with creative activities has been shown to contribute to reducing stress, combating depression, and serving as a vehicle for alleviating chronic diseases, according to “The Connection Between Art, Healing and Public Health: A Review of Current Literature,” published in The American Journal of Public Health in 2010. The Mint has recognized this connection for many years, and previous efforts have included joining the First Lady’s Let’s Move! museum initiative in 2011 and offering numerous previous free-admission community days, each of which have drawn thousands of people. But this year is the first time that sponsors have enabled the museum to present a full array of wellness-themed activities along with free museum admission.
Activities to be offered at both wellness days include croquet, kickball, yoga, and Frisbee in the sprawling park at Mint Museum Randolph; docent-led tours about the Mint’s permanent collections and traveling exhibitions; opportunities for quiet reflection in the Mint’s stunning gardens; artist demonstrations; picnics with healthy snacks and representatives from local farms; and do-it-yourself art activities. The Mint will also offer free admission to visitors at Mint Museum Uptown. (Normal adult general admission, which is valid for both museum locations, is $10).
“Community partnerships are vital to the mission, vision, and values of Novant Health,” said Karen Bentley, Director of Community Relations for Novant Health. “While much of the remarkable care we provide takes place within our facilities, our mission to improve the health of our communities extends far beyond our hospitals and physician practices.”
Novant Health plans to bring the Novant Health Breast Center mobile unit and the Novant Health Pediatric Critical Care Transport to its Wellness Day on June 29, along with hand washing demonstrations for children.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a supporting sponsor of the June 29 Wellness Day and will provide their Wellness Unit and offer additional health-related information at the event.
“Studies show that physically active people can save $500 per year on their health care costs. That’s certainly a goal worth pursuing,” said Ellison Clary, director of Charlotte community relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. “By collaborating with organizations like The Mint Museum to support wellness and physical fitness, we’re giving North Carolinians the opportunity to be active and stay healthy, which can make a real difference in their health care spending.”
The Novant Health Community Wellness Day will serve as a launch of the newest traveling exhibition to open at Mint Museum Randolph: New Eyes on America: The Genius of Richard Caton Woodville. The first exhibition of the artist’s work in 45 years, New Eyes on America will feature approximately four dozen paintings and other works by the American artist. It is the first exhibition of American paintings at Mint Museum Randolph in nearly five years. Woodville’s career produced a small number of pieces which depicted the major issues in American society leading up to the Civil War, including politics and emerging technology. These detailed and life-like canvases offer snapshots of America’s past that will appeal to art and history buffs alike.
PNC’s commitment broadened
In addition to sponsoring the fall Community Wellness Day, PNC has signed on as the lead sponsor for the Mint’s groundbreaking exhibition F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design). Visitors to the exhibition, which is on view at Mint Museum Uptown through July 7, are submitting family recipes to the museum, and a selection of them will be published in the Mint’s first-ever community cookbook with the help of PNC. And the financial service company has also become lead sponsor through February 2014 of the Mint’s Sunday Fun Days, held every third Sunday at Mint Museum Uptown. Each Sunday Fun Day is a drop-in family program offering hands-on art activities, healthy movement activities, and connections to the Mint’s exhibitions and permanent collection. Admission to Sunday Fun Days is free for children under 18 and half-price for adults.
The sponsorship is part of PNC’s “Grow Up Great” initiative. Founded by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., PNC Grow Up Great, and PNC Crezca con Éxito form a bilingual, $350 million, multi-year initiative that began in 2004 to help prepare children – particularly underserved children – from birth to age five for success in school and life.
“PNC has a long history of supporting organizations that strengthen and enrich the lives of our communities,” said Weston Andress, PNC Regional President, Western Carolina. “We understand that a rich arts community and a focus on healthy living is an important part of making the region attractive for businesses, residents and visitors.”
The fall Community Wellness Day on September 28 coincides with a national free museum admission day established by Smithsonian Magazine, called Museum Day Live! Each year on Museum Day Live!, visitors to participating museums may receive two free adult admissions if they print out a voucher from the Smithsonian website. However, thanks to the support of PNC, the Mint will not require visitors to present vouchers and will automatically grant free admission at both locations.
ABOUT PNC
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (www.pnc.com) is one of the nation’s largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking; residential mortgage banking; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. Follow @PNCNews on Twitter for breaking news, updates and announcements from PNC.
ABOUT NOVANT HEALTH
Novant Health is a four-state integrated network of physician practices, outpatient centers and hospitals that deliver a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to our communities. The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,100 physicians and 24,000 employees who make healthcare remarkable at more than 450 locations. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., Novant Health is committed to making healthcare remarkable for our patients and our communities serving over four million patients annually. In 2012, Novant Health provided more than $500 million in community benefit including charity care and services. Novant Health is one of the top 25 integrated health systems in the United States. For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services, and information to more than 3.74 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For generations, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs, and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina was recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute in 2012 and 2013. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com.